title: Wild mushroom extracts potentiate the action of standard antibiotics against multiresistant bacteria.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The main objective of this study was to evaluate the capacity of wild mushroom extracts to potentiate the action of standard antibiotics, through synergisms that allow a decrease in their therapeutic doses and ultimately contribute to the reduction of resistances.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Wild mushroom extracts were applied to different multiresistant micro-organisms (Escherichia coli, extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing (ESBL) E. coli and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), combined with commercial antibiotics (penicillin, ampicillin, amoxicillin/clavulanic acid, cefoxitin, ciprofloxacin, cotrimoxazol, levofloxacin). Microdilution method was used to determine minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs). The results obtained showed higher synergistic effects against MRSA than against E. coli. Mycena rosea and Fistulina hepatica were the best extracts for synergistic effects against MRSA. The efficiency of Russula delica extract against E. coli 1 (resistant to ampicillin, ciprofloxacin and trimethoprim/sulfasoxazole) and E. coli 2 (resistant to amoxicillin/clavulanic acid and ampicillin) was higher than that of Leucopaxillus giganteus extract; nevertheless, the latter extract exhibited better synergistic effects against ESBL E. coli.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study shows that, similarly to plants, some mushroom extracts can potentiate the action of antibiotics extensively used in clinical practice for Gram-positive or Gram-negative bacteria, with positive action even against multiresistant bacteria.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Mushroom extracts could decrease therapeutic doses of standard antibiotics and reduce micro-organism's resistance to those drugs.
authors.affiliation: CBQF-Escola Superior de Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica Portuguesa Porto, Porto, Portugal; Centro Hospitalar de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro- Unidade de Chaves, Chaves, Portugal; ESA, Instituto Politécnico de Bragança, Centro de Investigação de Montanha (CIMO), Bragança, Portugal; Escola Superior de Saúde, Instituto Politécnico de Bragança, Bragança, Portugal.
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Alves
authors.forename: I C F R
authors.initials: IC
authors.lastname: Ferreira
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Lourenço
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Castro
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pereira
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Martins
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pintado
mesh_terms: D000363:Agaricales; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D001419:Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D055624:Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents
keywords: antibiotics; multiresistant bacteria; synergism; wild mushroom extracts